World Cup Madness – Let the International Fun Begin

It’s hard not to be infected with World Cup Fever – it’s sweeping Atlanta as the games begin today! There are lots of great spots around town to watch your favorite countries and wave your flag, but both Marlow’s and Ormsby’s are making it even more enticing to plop down in your proud country colors for a brew and the big games!

Wherever your neighborhood is, there is sure to be a Marlow’s Tavern nearby and there’s lots of great reasons to stop by! From 2 to 5 p.m. during the big game, you can get half price appetizers and be entered to win a gift card. Social media junkie? Check-in on Foursquare and get even greater rewards – 20% off your bill when you show your server your check-in! Sweet!

You already know Ormsby’s for all the fun games like bocce ball and skeeball. Now you can add soccer to the mix of sports! Ormsby’s is participating in the Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010 with other area venues all donating a segment of profits to benefit SOS Children’s Villages. For example, when you order the $10 Paulaner beer and brat special, 15% of the brat’s proceeds will go towards this great cause. This will be going on the entire month during the World Cup, so stop by anytime to watch and help this worthy cause.

Whoever you’re rooting for, raise your vuvuzela and cheer your loudest cheer this weekend! Viva la World Cup!

It’s Follow Friday – Meet Our Tweep of the Week @MySkinConcierge

Your epidermis is showing, and Ava @MySkinConcierge knows how to treat it right.  She admits she's obsessed with skincare and trying new products.  Her obsession could be a time and money saver for you as she digs down deep.  Ava pores over more than skin.  The magazine travel and feature writer covers spas, travel and fun stuff with more details on her blog. 

Quality Wines & Great Values at Toulouse

If you're like me, you enjoy a good glass of wine. Those glasses of wine start adding up on the wallet, though. Luckily, Toulouse Restaurant is having their monthly wine tasting on Sunday, June 13 a 6:30 p.m. and is featuring wine values. There's no need to have to resort to a box of Franzia, because Toulouse will feature at least 15 wines to be tasted that are of great quality and value. There will also be light appetizers and the wine tasting is $35 per person. Toulouse’s wine tastings are very popular, and seats for this informative night are sure to go fast. Reserve a spot by calling 404-351-9533.

Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.

YEAH! Burger Opens Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day - FINALLY! I have been patiently waiting to try out Chef Shaun Doty's new burger joint and after pouring over the menu I already know what I'm trying first - a White Oak Pastures local beef patty on a whole wheat bun (I heard the buns are so light they actually bounce in your mouth. That is a quote.) with YEAH! sauce. I'm also saving room for a side of fifty-fifty (fries AND onion rings) and a peanut butter cup Concrete (a Concrete is very similar to Dairy Queen's Blizzards, and as a girl who can't pass a Dairy Queen without stopping for a fix, you can imagine I'm pretty excited...).

As I leave you anxiously waiting for lunchtime tomorrow, I thought I would share a few photos from Chef Doty's appearance on Good Day Atlanta this morning. As Good Day host Suchita Vadlamani said, "you can taste the love."

Toasting Up Some Artsy Fun for a Good Cause - The Bread Art Project

Like to play with your food? We do! Thanks to the internet, Share Our Strength and the Grain Foods Foundation, now you can play with your food AND help a great cause.

The non-profit Grain Foods Foundation created The Bread Art Project in 2009 to help create awareness of the growing hunger problem in our country. Last year alone, visitors to the site created more than 25,000 pieces of Bread Art; they’re hoping to reach their goal of 50,000 this year! For each piece of art created and posted, the Grain Foods Foundation will donate $1 to Share Our Strength. Get this - $1 can help provide THREE nutritious meals to a hungry child. Pretty amazing!

We had the pleasure of heading over to the Atlanta Community Food Bank this morning for a special presentation by Next Food Network Star Melissa d’Arabian, who filled us in about how the website can help fight hunger with your whole grain artworks.

She also shared some very fun ways to incorporate whole grain foods into your family’s diet with some easy, affordable recipes. Lucky for us some of these treats were there for us to try for ourselves! We’ve posted a recipe for one of her easy and yummy sandwiches that we tried below.

Feeling ready to get toasty yourself? Head over to The Bread Art Project, click Workshops and get creative! They’re up to 46,000 already, so let’s help them reach their goal of 50,000 pieces of toast and $50,000 for Share Our Strength!

Crispy Ham, Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich
Recipe developed by Melissa d’Arabian for the Grain Foods Foundation
2 T olive oil plus 1 teaspoon, divided
1 t dried basil
1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
4 thin slices ham
4 slices sandwich bread
4 slices mozzarella cheese
½ tomato, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper

In a small bowl, mix 2 T of the olive oil, basil, smashed garlic clove and salt and pepper with a
fork to release flavors and let sit while preparing the rest of the sandwich (at least five minutes).
In a small sauté pan, cook the ham in a teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat 2-3 minutes per
side, or until beginning to crisp. Toast the bread. Lay the cheese on one slice of the toast and
brush generously with the flavored olive oil, using a pastry brush. Add the ham, and top with
tomatoes. Brush the tomatoes with the olive oil, and top with the second piece of toast. Repeat
for the second sandwich.
Yield: 2 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Ease of preparation: Easy

South City Kitchen Vinings Offers a Smokin' Good Time

South City Kitchen Vinings' annual Blues, Brews & BBQ event is back, which means it's time for your dose of live music, finger lickin' food, draft beer and drink specials. From Thursday, June 10 through Sunday, June 13, the Vinings restaurant will be serving up plates of Texas-style smoked beef brisket, chopped smoked pork butt, sweet tea-brined smoked half-chicken and half-racks of St. Louis-style spare ribs ($7-$8). Guests who just can't decide can opt for a combo Q plate for $15. Smoked meat plates come with Texas toast, house pickles and three BBQ sauces. Diners can also choose special appetizers, desserts and side items to complete their meal while listening to blues on the patio.

For reservations, call 770-435-0700 or book online .

South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

It’s Time to Truly Experience Midtown

Don’t miss all the excitement at the "Experience Life on the Midtown Mile" event this Thursday, June 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this time, event attendees can truly take in the gorgeous city skyline from the 1010 Midtown building while enjoying tastes from many of Midtown's favorite dining spots like South City Kitchen Midtown, RA Sushi and Marlow's Tavern-Midtown. Musician Troy Cono will be providing the sweet summertime tunes. Ticket proceeds benefit the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Purchase your tickets for $10 each when you RSVP to http://lifeonthemidtownmile.eventbrite.com/.